Author: Caleb Buford

As the industry continues to grow and expand, the good news is that it means that consumers benefit the most when it comes to finding a great toilet. As opposed to other industries where products get bigger in size and scale, manufacturers are making smaller, more effective toilets that are more efficient and provide additional comfort. The following toilets are just a few that have been tested by experts and are considered the best toilets for the money to purchase for your home.

Available in an assortment of colors (bone, cotton, colonial white, Sedona beige, cotton white), the TOTO Ultramax II is a highly efficient model that uses only 1.8 gallons per flush while simultaneously remaining powerful and quiet. The upscale model ensures that each flushing movement is smooth and doesn’t wake the neighbors every time you flush it.

Featuring a universal height that is perfect for people of any size, it comes equipped with an elongated bowl that uses the advanced double cyclone flush technology to fully clean it each time with every flush. The toilet weighs only 99 pounds and comes with an extended 1 year warranty. For the ultimate is style and function, the Toto Ultramax is a respected brand that is one of the most efficient available on the market today.

KOHLER 3810-0 Santa Rosa Comfort Height Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

As a mid-range toilet that boasts innovative design and functionality, the Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet comes in several colors (black, blue, white, grey, almond, biscuit) and comes with comfort height seating. The toilet is designed to minimize lower back pain and its design is the primary reason it is one of the most popular ones available in the industry now. Water consumption is significantly reduced to a mere 1.28 gallons per flush, ensuring flushing power is not compromised. A 1 year limited warranty comes with the product and protects buyers’ investment.

American Standard 2004.014.020 Champion-4 Elongated One-Piece Toilet

The American Standard Champion falls into the medium price range that is a one piece design that dramatically reduces the potential for bacterial growth with its EverClean surface that makes it easier to clean than most models. With an extremely powerful and efficient flushing system and 4-inch piston action accelerator valve, the toilet bowl is fully cleaned with each flush, and the best bathroom cleaning tips are also included in the manual. The model boasts more power and efficiency than most current products on the market and with a warranty of 10 years, buyers can feel secure in their purchase.

TOTO MS980CMG#01 Neorest 550 Dual Flush One Piece Toilet

As one of the higher end models available on the market, the Toto Neorest 550 is not only one of the most efficient, but also one of the sleekest. Available in a several colors (Sedona beige, colonial white, cotton white), the features it has set it head and shoulders above most models. This smart toilet comes equipped with a nightlight, a hands free automatic flush, and several modes to use that clean the toilet that alleviates bacterial growth. Extra features include a remote and even a heating function, making this model the most advanced available today and definitely worth the investment.

Saniflo 023 SANICOMPACT 48 One Piece Toilet

Another advanced model on the market that features a tankless design is the Saniflo 023, specifically designed to fit in smaller bathrooms where there is less space. The model is environmentally friendly, using only 1 gallon per flush, and the futuristic design makes it perfectly suited for both children and adults. Consumers that want an upscale model need look no further than this electric toilet that is easily one of the most efficient available on the market today.

With the market quickly changing, customers have far more options to choose from when it comes time to upgrade their toilet, and several factors must be taken into consideration before an investment is made. No matter which model you select, each one of these toilets is guaranteed to be an efficient option that adds value to your home. Check here for other toilet reviews that assist your research efforts.

What can teenagers on a limited budget do to assist the impoverished and needy?

There’s a lot that can be done and often times, more than you realize.

Young people are quite often gifted with enormous talents when it comes to creativity and finding intelligent ways to assist others even with limited resources. The following are some guidelines that can help kickstart the creative process:

Donate a percentage of your allowance every week to assist the poor or give to a charity in support of the homeless.

Even if your allowance or salary is not much, there are no restrictions on the amount you can allocate to the needy. Try saving a dollar per day buy not buying a soda from a vending machine and donating what you save each week to a community center or a homeless person in your community. A local soup kitchen or shelter can always use your help.

Encourage Your Family to Pay Zakat

Many Muslims neglect Zakat and if you are eligible, you are required to pay. If you are not, ask your mother and father to, and if they agree, decide how and to whom. Respectfully emphasize the importance of Zakat as a pillar of Islam and encourage your parents to begin paying it. Utilize beautiful preaching and innate wisdom.

Encourage a family Sadaqa Project

Get the entire family involved by pitching at least monthly to a great cause when you organize a family Sadaqa project. From there, decide how you all can get involved to aid the poor.

Speak About Donating in A Youth Group

Brainstorm and discuss the ways to find solutions to problems are the first step in assistance. At the next youth group meeting, place the problems of the poor and homeless in your area as one of the primary ones on your agenda. An immediate plan is not necessary but beginning to discuss it keeps it fresh on everyone’s minds.

Visit Poor Areas of the City

Almost every major city has a poor area and you and your youth group should plan to visit them in order to see their living conditions directly and find out how they ended up there. Prepare to have your eyes opened. You can always give your time if you can’t give a toilet.

Present a School Assignment on Poverty

If you are unsure about what to present for a project at school consider the topic of poverty and the homeless. Research and know the statistics and show the true, real face of poverty. Then ask for charitable donations.

Collect More than Money

Before money is even an issue, there are a lot of basics that homeless people need aside from school. Hold a clothing drive, collect food, or transport the homeless around and make a difference.

Cover Poverty in a School Paper

If you have a talent for writing, consider covering poverty for the school paper. Give the student body an idea with words and photos to paint a picture of homelessness.

Cover Zakat and Sadaqa in the Masjid Pamphlet

If your Masjid has a newsletter, dedicate an issue on the topic of Zakat and Sadaqa and how they assist the needy and homeless. Interviewing an Imam can assist you in getting the basics right. Also include charities where supporters can done locally.

Use Facebook and Social Media

Place the information online through social media sites to engage readers.

Collect Money From Group Members

Collect donations from group members and make it a weekly thing. Designate one member as the collector and provide consultation to decide where the money goes.

Youth Seminar On the Impoverished

Have a youth-friendly speaker to speak on how Islam has battled poverty before and what can be done in the present. Afterwards, have a lecture with enough participants to engage the crowd.

About

Caleb Buford and Mohamed Juddaim are sociology majors at the University of San Francisco who are on a mission to bring electricity and indoor plumbing to every household in Africa by the year 2050. Caleb is available to answer any questions at caleb@libya-juddaim.com.